In a repeat of last year’s experience in the plus-II board examination, students found the English Paper-I on Thursday a bit frustrating, since questions for 26 marks under three different sections were twisted and confusing.
Government school teachers felt that out of the stipulated 26 marks, an average student could have secured only four or five marks. This would result in an average student securing a fail in English, they opined.
An English teacher from a government higher secondary school in the city on condition of anonymity said their students could not have attended five questions from numbers 34 to 38, each carrying two marks. Grammar which covered simple and compound sentences were very tough with twisted sentences.
Speaking to Express, she said, question number 44 to 48 each carrying two marks for comprehension passage, were not that easy for all students. The students could not have even understood the meaning of the passage. Likewise, poetry comprehension questions from 55 to 60 were also twisted. Out of six questions, students were able to attend only three, she said.
“This time, the English question paper was somewhat vague and confusing. It could have been framed in an easy and interesting manner. Questions from 11 to 23 each carrying two marks, were also a little bit complicated,” the teacher added.
She also suggested that some grace marks be provided to those who attempt these questions.
A government school headmaster said, “A government-aided school English teacher too opined that it was not a student-friendly question paper, when I enquired him about it.”
R Nagarajan, a government school student from the city said, “English paper-I was tough, and it is very difficult to score high marks, as many of the questions were incomprehensible.”